Here at Companion Animal Hospital of Washingtonville /Blooming
Grove, we advise annual screening for tick-borne diseases, as well
as annual Lyme vaccinations and flea prevention for dogs. We are
here to make sure you know the ins and outs of pet care, from
surgery preparation to ear cleaning. Contact our animal hospital
today to speak with a vet about your furry friend.
Healthcare Information
Here at Companion Animal Hospital of Washingtonville /Blooming
Grove, we advise annual screening for tick-borne diseases, as well
as annual Lyme vaccinations and flea prevention for dogs. We are
here to make sure you know the ins and outs of pet care, from
surgery preparation to ear cleaning. Contact our animal hospital
today to speak with a vet about your furry friend.

People have been known to have contacted some of the above
parasites from their pets directly or through sharing the
environment. Examples of ways people have contacted parasites
are: hookworm infection through the skin (walking barefoot outside),
and roundworm infection from oral ingestion of eggs.

For the protection of both pets and people we advise annual
stool examinations, feeding pets only cooked or prepared food (never
raw meat), routine de-worming for outdoor animals, flea and tick
prevention, and good personal hygiene.

For more information you can contact the CDC (cdc.gov),
Companion Animal Parasite Council (petsandparasites.org), and
others.

Toxic Foods and Your Dog

Grapes and Raisins

Grapes and Raisins can cause irreversible damage to the kidneys,
possible resulting in death.
Symptoms of toxicity include vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea,
abdominal pain, decreased urine production (possibly leading to lack
of urine production), weakness and drunken gait.

Onions

Onions can cause a form of hemolytic anemia called Heinz body
anemia, a condition that causes the destruction of red blood cells.
Kidney damage also occurs.
Toxicity may occur from similar foods such as garlic and chives
It is not clear what quantity of onions is poisonous, but the
effects can be cumulative. Poisoning can result from raw, cooked and
dehydrated forms
Symptoms include, pale gums, rapid heart rate, weakness, blood in
urine, and lethargy.

Chocolate and Caffeine

Chocolate and cocoa contain a chemical called theobromide that can
adversely affect the heart, lungs, kidney and central nervous
system.
Pure baking chocolate is most toxic, while milk chocolate requires a
higher quantity to cause harm. Ingestion of cacao bean mulch can
also be toxic.
Symptoms include excitement, tremors, seizures, vomiting, diarrhea,
abnormal heart rate/rhythm, drunken gait, hyperthermia and coma.

Xylitol is a sugar-free sweetener most often found in chewing gum
and candy. As few as two pieces of gum can cause hypoglycemia to a
20 pound dog. A pack of gum can cause liver damage.
Signs of toxicity can occur within 30-60 minutes and include
weakness, drunken gait, collapse and seizures.

Alcohol and Yeast Dough

Alcoholic beverages contain ethanol - a seriously toxic chemical
compound that causes central nervous system and respiratory
depression.
Uncooked yeast also produces ethanol.
Even small amounts of ethanol can cause toxic effects.
Symptoms include sedation, depression, lethargy, weakness, drunken
gait and hypothermia (low body temperature).
Ethanol is rapidly absorbed into the system, so it is important to
seek medical attention quickly. It is not usually helpful to induce
vomiting. Treatment includes aggressive supportive care with fluid
therapy and medications.

Otitis Externa (infection of the external ear canal) is common in
dogs and cats.

Common causes include bacteria, yeast, earwax, debris, parasites,
and/or allergies. Up to 80% of ear infections are linked to
allergies, and many times infections are a secondary result to poor
hygiene or another bodily disturbance (hormonal/infection).

Weekly ear examinations are paramount to the health of your animal's
ears. Check for foul odors coming from the ears, or an obviously
dirty ear canal. The ear canal should be cleaned with an ear
cleaning solution. To do so, fill the ear canal with a cleaner,
massage the solution in the ear canal, and then wipe clean with a
gauze or cotton swab. Repeat this until all the dirt and debris is
removed. If the ear canal is red and painful, this can be a sign of
an ear infection and veterinary care is recommended.

Preparing for Surgery

All animals require a physical examination prior to any procedure.
Surgery and anesthesia carry inherent risks (including death), and
proper preoperative evaluation is required. Tests to evaluate the
heart, internal organs, and bleeding parameters are strongly
advised. Screening may reveal any dangers in seemingly healthy
patients and allow us to postpone or cancel procedures until the
underlining problems are corrected.

The night before surgery it is paramount to withhold food and water
from your pets. General anesthesia on a full stomach carries very
serious dangers such as aspiration pneumonia, with potentially
life-threatening consequences.

We do not perform elective procedures (spays and neuters) on
patients younger than 6 months or females in heat. If your female
does come in heat we wait until her bleeding has stopped plus 3 to 4
weeks.

Post Surgery

After surgery, it is important to monitor your pet's recovery. Use
of an Elizabethan Collar is one of the most effective ways to
prevent your pet from self-trauma or self-removal of sutures. The
collar should be worn until the wound has fully healed and the
sutures are ready to be removed. In some instances, the surgical
site may seep a small amount of blood or blood-tinged fluid. Large
amounts of blood loss should be reported immediately to the hospital
as this may warrant immediate intervention. Any foul odor from an
incision site should be reported immediately. Pets should also be on
restricted activity until their wounds heal. A rapid return to
normal activity levels may be interpreted as a sign of recovery but
can also be injurious to healing wounds, causing them to break down,
leading to hernias and possible infection. Antibiotics and pain
medicine should be used as prescribed by the veterinarian.